The Navy’s Obscure, Super-Efficient Swim Stroke

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[@mylex817]

To be more precise: freestyle in a competitive swimming context basically means that swimmers can swim how they like. However, since front crawl is the fastest way to swim, it is usually preferred. I'm pretty sure it would be legal use the side stroke in freestyle races as well, it is just too slow.

[@ShankarSivarajan]

That's mostly true, except they banned the underwater dolphin kick because it's too good.

[@CatsT.M]

I always wondered why it was called freestyle...that does make sense.

[@mylex817]

@@ShankarSivarajan True, that's why I said 'basically". You could also argue that without that rule it would be more freediving than swimming.

[@TilmanBaumann]

Thanks for clarifying. I was just about to ask if Enlish had a stroke or so.

[@thePronto]

That's why it's called 'freestyle'...

[@Rapidashisaunicorn]

Can’t wait for the error correction video where Sam has to admit that freestyle isn’t a stroke and is a competitive category in which swimmers actually just choose to do frontstroke because it’s the fastest

[@BeefinOut]

I wonder if he'll also admit that the sidestroke is actually pretty well known

[@lonestarr1490]

@@BeefinOut It's the stroke Link is using in all the 3D Legend of Zelda games, isn't it?

[@glub1381]

@@BeefinOut maybe for swimmers but I've never heard of it

[@ericmueller8505]

And that breaststroke is not pronounced "breath stroke"

[@josiaboy]

@@lonestarr1490 yes it is!

[@listen1st267]

As a lifeguard, this was the first and most basic swimming stroke we taught in swim lessons. It's really not obscure at all

[@jabibgalt5551]

Sure the technique is not obscure for a lifeguard. But it is less known ("obscure") for the rare/occasional swimmers like myself, tho.

[@maxumunum1926]

Who did you train with? I went through American Red Cross for my lifeguard class and were only allowed to do breaststroke and crawl stroke

[@listen1st267]

The program was also through the American Red Cross and we taught side strike and elementary backstroke to kids as young as 6. Obviously we taught breaststroke, backstroke, and front crawl too, but that came a little later

[@Ericisnotachannel]

Yeah, I learned the side stroke in the boy scouts about 25 years ago, and was taught it again in the Marines about 20 years ago. Very useful for trying to swim with dead weight. Though for me, the elementary back stroke is still the least demanding and best to use if swimming a long distance by yourself.

[@mlmichel98]

As some who was taught this young, and sucks at swimming, I exclusively use this technique

[@macmurfy2jka]

I would like to set the records straight on this, sidestroke is probably the most useful stroke man had invented. One it is a recovery stroke: It can be done while exhausted, allowing one to not drown in open water. Two, unlike other recovery strokes, your head can be very high out of the water, and you can see where you are going. This is important if you are in stormy conditions and want to avoid sucking down water instead of air when breathing. A swimmer can see where they at going with this stroke as well, because staying on course is also nice. Third, this is really the only stroke one can employ towing another person, or boat, or any other object through the water. Fourth, the stroke uses strong muscle groups that most people already use day to day. It does not require as much physical training to be able to go longer distances with this stroke. It’s also pretty easy to learn and teach. Lastly, it as a shallow stroke. Unlike some others, this stroke can be performed in murky waters, where potential for injury from kicking a snag or something is a danger. As the primary propulsion come from kicking the legs together, the legs extending are not under great force. This essentially allows the swimmer to feel around with their legs before committing to an injurious kick. Because of all this the Red Cross, Scouts BSA, and YMCA teach this stroke. I may not have great use in a pool, but if one ever Ventura out into natural bodies of water, this stroke is really the most important to know. I have swam miles using primarily this stroke. The only other stroke I would consider for long distance swimming is front crawl with a two beat kick. Take it from a triathlete, boater, windsurfer, paddle boarder, and ex Lifeguard.

[@ChadMartinson-LaunchBlox]

Breast stroke is another long distance stroke. I find myself alternating between Side, breast and back with the same whip kick as the breast stroke.

[@jacka7241]

I'm a lifeguard and can confirm I use sidestroke. It is very easy to rescue people with. You can tow a person with one arm and stroke with the other. You can use sidestroke with your head in the water too, its a bit quicker. You can also perform a 'contact tow' with somebody basically on your back/side and requires no rescue equipment to pull somebody along.

[@rich45davis]

You mean you're an undrownifier ;)

[@jacka7241]

@@rich45davis exactly

[@theenzoferrari458]

You lifeguards are evil people.

[@rileycarrier7703]

As a former lifeguard, you are exactly correct👏🛟

[@TheSkyline77]

I was taught this in swimming lessons as well

[@Mark-vv1dy]

As a kid, this was taught to me as the "safety stroke," as in the one to use if you end up stranded by a sinking boat, since you can last the longest and get the farthest with it before drowning from exhaustion. Pretty gruesome to think about, but it certainly kept me from ever forgetting about it.

[@overwrite_oversweet]

Arguably the survival backstroke is better, but unless the water is very warm it'll usually be the hypothermia that gets you first. (Especially if you are wearing a life jacket or other PFD, which you definitely should be prepared to do if you ever get on a boat of course)

[@TimSheehan]

@@overwrite_oversweet I'd pick one of the other two because in a survival situation I want to watch where the hell I'm going. But yes, learned the same 3 survival strokes at a young age so surprised to hear people don't know sidestroke

[@theperson5185]

Same

[@gaerekxenos]

For distance, the Backstroke version is much better due to energy usage, plus you can keep your head above water the entire time. You change when you know you are getting closer to something or feel that you need a bit more awareness of surroundings. I don't even know what the mentioned third one is

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

1.One of the forward crawls (depends on the "usual" number of strokes before lifting your face to breathe) 2. Backstroke 3. Elementary Backstroke... which sounds weird, but it's subsurface where you "squid" yourself along with a good view of the surface, for getting clear of burning oil or debris before attempting to breach the surface in a boating emergency... SHOULD be taught everywhere there are boats... 4. Sidestroke... These were taught to me as a child around boats, rivers, streams, and lots of dubious water-sporting activities. Things like the breast stroke and butterfly would come with competitions and beginning to snorkel after pennies in the pool, but that was more a natural progression rather than any particular lessons "taught" by someone coaching about moving too fast or "fighting" the water rather than working with it. Of the bunch, yes, the backstroke is THE premier for water-survival because ultimately, ALL your energy is about propulsion. You don't waste ANYTHING about keeping your face clear of water or staying afloat and there's no faff... Every motion pushes you through the water, and you can relax and breathe, putting as much or as little "real effort" into moving forward as you wish, so even at relative breath-catching pace, you still make progress if you wish... It's ultimately like walking for water, where YOU make the pace and priority. If I'm in a hurry, it's a crawl. There's just no other way to really move fast in the water. Splash or don't, pick up a breath every 4 or every 8 complete stroke-cycles, or just when you're about to run out of bubbles... whatever... the point is 100% about hauling ass. Try not to waste energy needlessly beating on the water, but otherwise, Point A to Point B is all you really think about. Love the Elementary backstroke for escapes... Whether there's just a fire on the boat, or if it's capsizing and stuff is still "raining down" from the various decks and levels, you can put some space between you and the surface and keep an eye up above while you're "squidding along" so the debris slows before you're in direct danger, giving you time and space to move out of the way and still make progress... A breast stroke down there doesn't give you that opportunity, and you have no idea (until you roll over and look) where the fire stops... AND the Side stroke... Ultimately efficient AND spacially aware. It's the one downside to the backstroke for all the benefits. YOU CAN NOT SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING... BUT with the side stroke, your head is up to swivel about. There's a blind-spot to the one side, but an occasional pause to look is all that's required, and generally it's not a terrible risk. The sidestroke has NO REQUIREMENT for your limbs to breach the surface, either. SO the only real difference between a conventional side stroke and the "combat sidestroke" is that you expressly keep everything below your shoulders BELOW the surface... That mixed with moving slowly enough not to cause any excess noise is how Seals can "appear out of nowhere" in almost no water to speak of... I mean, the water can be kneed deep and they can still skulk through it without you hearing or seeing a damn thing... It's worth practicing. ;o)

[@Naxhus2]

It's fairly common in Australia. It's one of the strokes they teach you at the more popular swimming programs. It is my favourite stroke for pretty much the reasons listed in the video, in addition to being very very easy to teach kids. "Pick the apple, put it in the basket" + "bring your feet to your bum, split, snap back together". If you're in an aquatic accident it'll keep you moving and keep you alive, in addition to letting you see where you're going.

[@SpaceShipDee]

Yep, I think every Australia kid knows this one.

[@lizzie7654]

Yep, I remember learning it at school and practicing water rescues with it. I think we were around 11yrs old.

[@mads_in_zero]

Oh you just unlocked a core memory with "pick the apple, put it in the basket", I'd completely forgotten that.

[@warman1944]

Everyone in America knows it too, including the "apple picking" thing. Idk why he's pretending it's obscure.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@warman1944 TBH, I think it's only obscure for those that haven't learned to swim. We used the apple picking mnemonic as well. I can't recall what if anything was said about the legs though.

[@JoelReid]

Side stroke is taught in Australia in standard swimming lessons. My 10 year old daughter learned it a few years ago. This is because a major part of swimming lessons in Australia is knowing how to survive. It is not obscure in Australia at all.

[@lachlanjeffery2597]

Yeah came to say a similar thing. It's even called the survival stroke in many scenarios. Water safety is important 👍

[@RockinFootball_23]

@@lachlanjeffery2597 yeah, I was taught survival backstroke and (survival) sidestroke as a kid

[@jimwoodman1481]

The sidestroke is so obscure, the Red Cross and YMCA have been teaching it to kids for decades! I used to teach Red Cross swim lessons, and sidestroke and breast stroke were taught at the same time, after students were proficient in crawl, elementary backstroke, and had started to learn to tread water. I really wouldn't describe it as obscure.

[@waffles3629]

Same, and yeah. I learned it at the YMCA and taught it through Red Cross lessons, it's not obscure.

[@JPINFV]

@@riggs20 I don't teach swimming, but I remember learning it taking swim lessons as a kid.

[@waffles3629]

@@riggs20 not really. I knew what sidestroke was when I was seven, I didn't start teaching swim lessons till my 20s. You don't need to be a swim instructor to know what it is.

[@poopconsumer1234]

Yep. Learned it as well.

[@Marquipuchi]

i was on the ymca swim team for years and they made us do it sometimes

[@MrTylertherockstar]

Navy Diver here; the stroke itself is amazingly efficient. With fins, it’s a little faster, but definitely pretty slow. I’ve been able to swim a couple miles without being completely exhausted with this stroke, though.

[@ChrispyNut]

Is there a stroke that's not quicker with fins? 😜

[@MrTylertherockstar]

@@ChrispyNut meant to highlight that even with fins, it's not at all fast. Good point though, haha

[@ColHunterGathers]

@@ChrispyNut the walking stoke :)

[@alsaunders7805]

When I did the mile swim in the Boy Scouts I used mostly a side stroke. Maybe not as fast but it doesn't wear you out. 🤔🤓🍻

[@maxmonlux]

KDSA

[@_maxgray]

My childhood swim lessons covered front crawl, backstroke, and sidestroke as the first three strokes. Not sure why you think most people have never heard of it...

[@TurtleGamers1]

I never heard of it shrug

[@iamacatperson7226]

I've never heard of it, just kinda depends who teaches you I guess

[@silentsmurf]

I’ve never heard of it either

[@absolutemattlad2701]

Same it was one of my first

[@jabomacalua319]

I mean not sure if this is relevant but I'm from Canada and learned the back, front and side stroke first as well

[@K-o-R]

We were taught sidestroke in primary school. It was noted that you could potentially swim forever because it used so much less energy.

[@aleks-lj9yq]

You can as with any stroke except butterfly

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

I was always aware of sidestroke. Also there's a sixth stroke, reverse breast stroke, which is sometimes called tadpole, where you do breast stroke motions on your back.

[@pocklecod]

I learned the "tadpole" as "modified backstroke." It's my favourite for swimming in open water as you can just rest and float any time and as a result you can swim pretty much indefinitely, albeit quite slowly.

[@Gary_Harlow]

We leant that in school as "lifeguard backstroke"

[@Theinatoriinator]

I learned elementary backstroke, it's actually one of the easiest energy-wise because you just float on your back. It also reduces your body from the water, which increases the time before hypothermia.

[@mini_bunney]

this one is also useful in the navy, since you can chain people together, putting one persons legs under the next persons armpits, and create what is essentially a row-boat made of people (or a water-caterpillar I guess), making it easier to keep a group floating and swimming towards safety

[@real_surreal_sir]

Learned it as frogstroke, and along with sidesteoke I was taught it at a swim classes as kid. They were the "six swim strokes" I'm learning today right now that the "six strokes" isn't universal

[@jollyfish84]

I was taught this at swimming lessons in my childhood. In Australia after learning how to actually swim, a lot of it was focussed on survival swimming so we had to do things like tread water fully clothed for 20 minutes, or swim a long distance using survival strokes - side stroke being one of them.

[@problemsolver3254]

Me to

[@listen1st267]

Yeah that's all pretty standard for the upper levels of swim lessons

[@andrewjgrimm]

I wonder if that happens only in Australia.

[@listen1st267]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I'm American, not Australian 😅

[@AtomicSource11]

Came here to say the same! Also, learning to swim is compulsory in Australian schools, for survival reasons. People don't usually get taught how to do the sidestroke super well tho, cos it's never used for sport.

[@robohippy]

The "over arm side stroke' was a competition stroke up until the 1900 Olympics when it was dropped in favor of the much slower breast stroke. The reasoning was that breast stroke was more 'gentlemanly' because there was less splashing. The lift guard side stroke is the most common one seen in the pools, generally with older swimmers. While it works, it is painfully slow. Mostly the scissor kick, which is fine for propulsion if you are towing some one in from drowning, it creates huge amounts of drag. The combat swim side stroke is a bit faster, mostly because the swimmers are in the military, which means they are usually younger and in much better athletic condition. The over arm side stroke is similar to the combat swim side stroke, except the top side comes out of the water and over the top like freestyle. If you drop the scissor kick and use a flutter kick, it is far faster than breast stroke, faster than back stroke, and maybe even able to keep up with the fly. The only record in existence for over arm side stroke was set in 1895, almost 130 years ago. The time was 1:02.5 for 100 yards. It is a long axis stroke, body rotation is used, and of course, flip turns.

[@-Falcn]

In Australia, at least western Australia, lifeguards (who all know side stroke) never use it. The reason being is that if you need to use side stroke then you are going too far and if there is some one out too far to swim freestyle to then you use a board or an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) The only reason you would use side stroke is if you do not have equipment and need to drag someone through the water for a long distance. An Australian lifeguard would only not have equipment if they are not on duty so idk why there was the whole section about lifeguards

[@jayd6224]

I was a U.S. Marine swim instructor and lifeguard. We taught it primarily as an endurance stroke to use different muscles than the breaststroke. It's a survival stroke more than a combat stroke which is important even if it's not popular in college swimming.

[@AWildBard]

sidestroke, backstroke, swim to shore hit the beach and we're ready for war! hoorah

[@siddharthbutala6781]

Thank God for my MCWISS in Pcola lmao, Made NACCS look like cake

[@Ali-lm7uw]

Can you give some inside secrets of swimming? I am a pro pro swimmer

[@bugtracker152]

Just my 5 cents. I’ve been a swimmer and breaststroker for over 40 years. The real breaststroke is actually very energy demanding and whatever video shows as a breaststroke the most inefficient version of it. Looking at the sidestroke I’m not sure how to make it work since the movements look really disruptive and creating tons of drag. I’ve never been a life guard but just for fun I tried on many occasions to transport people in the water. I found out that a regular upside down breaststroke kick while laying on the back and a person on top of me with the head face up on my chest was the most efficient way to promote myself in the water. Setting the kick does create some drag but once it is delivered there’s some likeness of a streamline and glide phase which seems to me less disruptive than simultaneous arms and legs movement.

[@gnarwhalnoah]

dont remember when i learned sidestroke but i definitely learned it as a kid. We even had a fun way of remembering the storke, which was "pick the apple" (where the front arm extends, picking the apple, then pulls it back down to pass it to the other hand, which then extends downwards to drop it in the basket). thought everyone knew about it, guess not!

[@fred_e]

You're bringing back memories from twenty years ago for me lol. Thanks homie

[@pierreroy8124]

Omg me too. I love side stroke. So easy and efficient, especially in lakes and open water!

[@jackalope2302]

@@fred_e 30-35 years, man. When the hell I get so old?

[@crumpsyjay]

Exactly how I was taught, apples and all !

[@Danflave]

Everyone does know about it. Sam and his writers have just apparently been living under a rock.

[@hankb1604]

As a retired triathlete and now regular kayak support during local triathlons, it amazes me how often swimmers who freak out will turn over to do an elementary back stroke. When I recommend that they use a side stroke, the semi-panicing swimmers look at me with a quizical look as to what i am suggesting them to do. The side stroke is a great stroke for open water swimming!

[@BillyBob-bd1hj]

Side stroke was the primary stroke I learned as a kid. latter in life I learned combat side stroke. The side stroke really shines when you introduce fins. The side position keeps both fins in the water and your legs do most of the work.

[@FaultyMuse]

Calling it "obscure" is kinda misleading considering side-stroke is part of most basic swimming courses....

[@oskrm]

but most people don't go to swimming courses

[@Jehty_]

In which country... Or are you talking for all countries in general?

[@pepsitruther67]

@@Jehty_I don’t think it’s in all countries. I did high level swimming in Europe as a teen, and I’ve never heard of it before.

[@Jehty_]

@@pepsitruther67 that's why I wrote my comment 😁

[@FaultyMuse]

@@Jehty_ I was referring to USA. Good point about it being different in different countries (even with states in USA!) @_oskr could be different where you are but basic swim lessons were part of required PE courses in High School and side stroke was included in that.

[@BlazeCombustion]

sidestroke was literally the first thing taught in all of the swimming classes I've ever had, and it's even taught as the preferred method in the Boy Scouts in the US

[@alexandermcleanalmndbuttrt4714]

Swimming merit badge and Lifesaving merit badge, baby 😎

[@Thesupremeone34]

​@@alexandermcleanalmndbuttrt4714 first class rank up

[@elijahlong7791]

@@alexandermcleanalmndbuttrt4714 heck yea baby, can’t wait for camp, it’s so soon

[@fatkat7952]

@@alexandermcleanalmndbuttrt4714 lifesaving > e prep any day of the week

[@skuyken]

I learned side stroke for swimming and life saving merit badge, but I certainly never learned it in any swimming lessons i took outside boy scouts. And i rarely if ever see anybody doing it.

[@BryanLikesCandy]

Australian and can assure you that sidestroke is taught as one of the five base strokes in mandatory swim classes in primary and high school. These classes are mandatory for school students to learn the basics of water safety and survival.

[@Fishmans]

I don’t think that’s nation wide. None of my friends or I ever learnt it at swim school.

[@asherjackson4504]

Can confirm this was the case in WA. Mandatory in primary school.

[@madkills10]

yep, learnt this in primary school

[@adventure_hannah3841]

Certified Open Water undrownifier and competitive triathlete here! I LOVE the sidestroke as a guard because it's fast and I can keep my eyes on my target, which is super important in murky or choppy waters. In triathlon, pretty much everyone swims front crawl, but the sidestroke is my favorite recovery stroke for when I need to catch a few really deep breaths while a whole fricken half-mile from shore. I can also spot buoys way easier from sidestroke, so that's nice.

[@handumandu]

This is a secret? Side stroke is one of the basic strokes taught in virtually all American swim classes. Kids learn side stroke LONG before trying butterfly.

[@sebastianflynn1746]

I took swim classes as a kid and never learnt this.

[@MrShamooga]

I learned sidestroke in childhood swim lessons.

[@czechslovakian]

I learned it, but after butterfly.

[@nodidog]

I've never heard of sidestroke, and I swim pretty much every day

[@juliaf_]

I learned back, front and breast strokes, but never side. I stopped the year before butterfly, but side was definitely never there. For rescue, front was used to get to the person in danger, and eggbeater or smth to get back to land so you could keep them in sight while also having good propulsion.

[@chris-anderson]

Definitely was taught the sidestroke as one of the main strokes, as a kid in the US in the 2000's. They taught us to default to the sidestroke for any general navigation in the water, and to use the other strokes for racing or exercise.

[@tammygant4216]

same, except I learned it as a kid in the 70's ---in both the US and Holland (military kid). So on 2 different continents, this was well known and widely taught 50 years ago and from the comments it seems that's still true (on more than 2 continents)....dunno why he insists no one knows this...

[@TheWilliamHoganExperience]

I trained as a lifeguard in my youth. I've pulled 5 people from the ocean or harbors over the years, but I only used the side-stroke once. The first thing you're taught as a lifeguard is to NEVER approach a drowning person without something that floats between you and them. That's only if you must enter the water to rescue them. Sidestroke is a rescue stroke for the reasons you describe - your head stays above the water, yet it's a very easy stroke for propulsion, that's similar to the breast stroke. The breast stroke was taught as a suvival stroke. You can cover huge distances with it effciently if you alternate it with the backstroke because both strokes are effcient yet employ different muscel groups. The key to survival and/or distance swimming lies in conservation of energy through carefully pacing yourself. Hypothermia is the biggest threat in northern waters - once water temps drop below 65 to 70 degress it becomes a race against the clock. Below 55. and you only have a few hours if you're not thermally protected. 2 hours is enough time for a reasonably fit, non-panicked, trained person to swim several miles. At least 2 and as many as 4 if they are in good shape. That means you'll survive most imersions in lakes or rivers if you keep your head about you, and even most in-shore ocean dunkings. Offshore is another matter. More than 5 miles out, and you're gonna need warm water and a cool head to survive unless your aboard something that floats. Even then, panic kills a lot more people than drowning or hypothermia or starvation. So be cool.... ;-)

[@julianffan]

I took swimming lessons for several years as a kid and we definitely learned the sidestroke. It was probably the first thing we learned, I was like four so I can’t exactly remember but I know when we learned front stroke they introduced it as more difficult because you had to hold your breath, and when we were all first learning it a lot of kids would default to sidestroke when they got too intimidated or forgot what they were doing. It was default.

[@petergerdes1094]

I feel like it was just your writing team which didn't get taught sidestroke in basic swim lessons. Maybe it's an age thing? But I took alot of swim lessons in various places in the country while growing up and it was pretty standard then (born around 1980).

[@Gamingraptorstudios]

Born in 2000 and never learned it in swim school

[@sewpungyow5154]

I learned sidestroke last, in mandatory swimclass for high school. Previously, I had learned the other four strokes for competitions

[@NGCAnderopolis]

His writing team also didn't learn that it is called a crawl, not a freestyle.

[@petergerdes1094]

@@sewpungyow5154 Born around?

[@king_dot]

Doubt it I learned side stroke too and am pretty confident I’m younger then his writers, could be location based though

[@cypothingy]

They also taught the sidestroke as part of the Swimming Merit Badge in BSA. Never knew it was a relatively niche thing

[@ColHunterGathers]

Its not. I would not have survived the 1 mile swim at BSA summer camp. You can flip sides which really helps rest some muscles. I think side stroke is almost mandatory for Scuba and wearing flippers.

[@austinyu8550]

Its not taught under the swimming merit badge but under the lifesaving merti badge

[@PaulSteMarie]

​@@austinyu8550 and in the YMCA introduction to drinking for 6 year olds. Front crawl, side stroke, back crawl, back stroke, and underwater stroke. None of us kids were strong enough for the breaststroke.

[@SomeoneTookMyOldName]

@@ColHunterGathershonestly for scuba you don’t really need to conserve as much energy because you are supposed to be neutrally buoyant, meaning you are not supposed to be floating or sinking so you don’t need to keep yourself afloat through swimming

[@BlueJayWaters]

When I went through Navy bootcamp, during our swim qualification they specifically said not to use the sidestroke, because we probably weren't taught it properly. When I was asked to advance my swim qualification to teach swimming they showed us and other "strong swimmers" the proper technique. Every time I swim I alternate between it and the butterfly. It's a great work out and you can literally swim for hours without exhausting your body. And if you do want a harder cardio, incorporate some freestyle and you have a great overall workout.

[@mads_in_zero]

Before I clicked on this video, I actually thought to myself, "is it Sidestroke? No... it can't be, that's not really obscure at all." In Australia, if you get far enough in swimming lessons (which, culturally, pretty much everyone takes at some point, because we love the beach), you _will_ learn sidestroke. There's even a classic children's song that I knew as a kid that specifically namedrops sidestroke (and breaststroke, and fancy diving too!), which was one of the main reasons I instantly ruled it out as being obscure. What absolute bottom of the barrel clickbait title bull.

[@Pretzel782]

Oh wouldn’t it be nice if there was nothing else to do!

[@kyleholtzen6739]

I definitely remember learning this in my swim lessons like ten years ago. I don't think I ever really got the side stroke down tho

[@m1dos391]

Same man

[@angelazsz]

same! it’s pretty hard hahahah

[@SenorJuan2023]

???It's the easiest stroke.

[@karlrovey]

It takes a little bit to get the kick down. When I initially had to use it, the person teaching me explained it poorly. So I wound up with an inefficient and painful swim stroke until I figured it out watching others use it.

[@drworm5007]

I was taught sidestroke in the standard public pool swimming lessons, so I would guess pretty much all Australians who grew up in the late '90s early 2000s would be aware of it too.

[@benjaminanderson1014]

I learned sidestroke in my swim lessons as a kid. Very useful for carrying things around while swimming.

[@connecticutaggie]

I do like sidestroke but the most effortless swimming for me is backstroke. The big challenge with backstroke is that you can't see where you are going but if you have a really long distance to swim, it is unobstructed, and the destination/route is flexible, backstroke is a really low effort option.

[@dc41]

Freestyle is most efficient and effortless if you know what you doing trust me.

[@Spacecore2]

Boy Scouts teach the sidestroke and I use it all the time

[@briandolinar67]

Same. My first reaction when he listed the first 4 strokes was, "what about the side stroke?" It's really not obscure.

[@ColHunterGathers]

side stroke is the best for distance and resting while still navigation. Also, it is THE stroke in lifeguard and rescue...

[@historicalfootnotes]

HAI: There's a secret swim stroke you've never heard of!! 😱 Me, a Boy Scout: I was literally taught this when I was 9

[@darrylatkins3444]

I was never taught the sidestroke formally, but it was something that came up intuitively. If you’re recreationally swimming off of a beach in an area that has currents (think an ocean or a bay) a side stroke is a pretty good technique that is low energy that you can use to keep yourself relative to your beech basecamp.

[@1Leo2grad3Fett]

same here

[@grandmothergoose]

I clicked on this because I saw the thumbnail and thought, "What?!" Then I heard the American accent as the video started and it all made sense. It's not a secret in Australia. Anyone that has ever done a lifesaving course such as Swim and Survive, or any kind of water rescue course such as Bronze Medallion, at their local beach or pool, knows how to do it, and that covers almost everyone in Australia because most schools send their students off to do one of those types of courses at least once in the student's life. Sidestroke is mostly taught as a towing stroke used for dragging another swimmer or object safely through the water. There's also backscull, another swimming stroke taught in lifesaving, designed to help a tired swimmer stay alive until help can arrive whilst still moving their way out of a rip or current. Then again, it was Australia that invented Surf Lifesaving, so it would be a little absurd for us to not teach our kids the basics.

[@lanaj1107]

I always used sidestroke. It's a resting stroke. We were taught that ( along with every other stroke) in 1972 swim class and every class through my graduation in 1978. We had to take swim class every year! I still use the side stroke when I swim.

[@TheNerd484]

I learned the sidestroke in my ymca swim lessons when I was like 10

[@tractorguy97]

Same

[@ImConstantlyConfused]

Same! I think they called it the scissor kick

[@ColHunterGathers]

@@ImConstantlyConfused That's just the kick which can be used with other strokes.

[@StephenEhrlichPhotos]

I learned the Side Stroke in the 1960’s. For the arm,we learn to think: “Pick an apple, put it in a basket”. For the legs, our internal chant was: “Up, out, together, glide 2-3-4” I can do the sidestroke effortlessly.

[@hiei5040]

As others have pointed out, the front crawl is the correct term for that stroke, "freestyle" is not a stroke it is just an event that means people can swim whatever way they like, they just usually choose front crawl occasionally switching to backstroke when tired

[@mfx1]

I was taught it as a kid but then my dad was an ex Navy diver and lifesaving instructor. I also got really good at holding my breath floating face down in the water playing dead in lifesaving classes.

[@TheJttv]

It is included in every swim class ever... now not every one is fortunate enough to take swim classes or go to camp, but thats a different story.

[@nullpro7435]

Agree, not secret at all

[@kinfongyeung5400]

what do you expect from HAI

[@maruftim]

the Navy version or the normal one?

[@Tomwithnonumbers]

My (UK) swimming lessons never covered side stroke. Just front crawl, backstroke, breast stroke and sculling

[@ARedFeather]

Normal one

[@shockwave402]

There's a 6th stroke that's a "resting" variant of the backstroke called the elementary backstroke. It's not very fast, but it conserves a lot of energy because you're quite buoyant in that position. It basically uses a breaststroke kick while pushing your arms downwards in one motion through the water.

[@DarthLenaPlant]

I use to call that one "The Jellyfish" (opposing the "The Dolphin", aka Butterfly)

[@kcmisulis425]

I learned this from World of Warcraft as the Undead swim motion and honestly I've been a fan ever since

[@Aksuloid]

Gotta say, 6 minutes of Sam talking about stroking is a pretty good friday.

[@brycechristensen2296]

I learned sidestroke in lessons at the local pool as a kid. It is still my preferred way to get around the pool. I think the main issue is that it isn't a racing stroke and a lot of swim schools and teachers are focused on competition training.

[@Harmonikdiskorde]

Yeah -- the swim classes at my town's pool were basically feeders into swim team (where the real $$ was made).

[@ButzPunk]

In Western Australia, where I live, we have swimming lessons as part of the mandatory school curriculum, so a lot of people who grew up here know the survival strokes, including sidestroke. If you get to the upper levels in school swimming, you get a special medal that says you can be a lifeguard or something.

[@parkerpope1163]

Red Cross Lifeguard instructor here, we never use sidestroke. Only forward crawl or breast as both can be used with a rescue tube and are faster (also the swim test specifically requires crawl or breast). However, I personally almost exclusively use the sidestroke when swimming casually.

[@1Arrowkill1]

Sidestroke was what I learned for long distance swimming. I couldn't keep myself going with more traditional strokes, so I opted for sidestroke because I could perform lap after lap after lap on a pool without really tiring.

[@ColHunterGathers]

yep. you can flip sides so that different muscles get some rest and your face is out of the water so you can navigate. This video is totally wrong and just shows that the writers never learned something so its now a mystery...

[@brrrrrr]

​@@ColHunterGathersit's about the combat sidestroke, not the normal sidestroke

[@casmatt99]

Side stroke is the second way I learned to swim after doggy paddle. It's definitely a less tiring stroke than the others, and thus important for anyone who swims in open water.

[@jgr7487]

for those who didn't get the end joke, the crawl is the actual name of the style normally called freestyle. freestyle actually is just the official way of saying "swim however you like".

[@MeinenNamenSagIchNicht]

One Word: ZELDA. Everyone who played Zelda and went swimming could see the sidestroke. It is the way Link (the Hero of the game) usually swims.

[@KeyDash753]

Like many other commenters, I learned sidestroke in swimming classes, particularly the later courses which led into lifeguard certification. I also learned one they called "elementary T", which was like a breaststroke on your back. Most people I talk to have never heard of it, but I've always liked it. It's very lazy and relaxing, the biggest downside is you can't see where you're going and (unlike backstroke) you never stick arms above your head to feel an approaching wall.

[@petermescher332]

When I was in Boy Scouts 30 years ago, they definitely taught all of us side-stroke. I also enjoyed elementary backstroke the most, and still use it today. (It's not great for rough water, but it's an efficient stroke that is relaxing since it keeps your head out of the water.)

[@jasonreed7522]

I just figured everyone just intuitively figured out "elementary T" and side stroke. We only have a couple basic motions in swimming, scissor or frog kick, and windmill or scoop with arms, add in how you position yourself in water and by combining these motions you get just about every stroke. (Except butterfly which is unique for both the dolphin kick and the synchronized windmill arms, unless I'm just unaware of another stoke using these motions)

[@_maxgray]

Did they teach you "elementary T" as "little bird, big bird, flap"?

[@KeyDash753]

@@_maxgray Maybe, I don't remember. That certainly is a reasonable way to describe it to little kids.

[@blak4831]

@@_maxgray thats how I learned it, alongside chicken-airplane-rocket

[@nazamroth8427]

Im not sure how well it would work outside pool conditions, and you definitely cant see where the hell you're going, but I always found swimming on my back breastroke-style to be the easiest energy-wise. You float anyway, you can constantly breathe, You dont have to keep pushing yourself up and out of the water, and most of the time you are just gliding.

[@eggorgreg]

its a great swim stroke, and can also be used in rescue situations too. usually you would tow the victim to shore, where they are holding onto a rope/ item of clothing and are being towed to shore.

[@jasonreed7522]

I think of that as jellyfish swimming and i know that isn't the proper name. (The breast stroke resembles a frog) But that motion is good to get someone back to shore, you get them face up and wrap your arms around their chest to hold them and keep their face out of the water and just scissor kick back to shore. (Really the main thing when rescuing someone is keeping their face above the water without drowning yourself)

[@AbigailPoirier]

The backstroke was the first way I learned to swim...for some reason, the others didn't stick. It may not be as energy efficient for when you're actually on a mission to get somewhere, but for just casual swimming, it's pretty hard to beat. Any time you start to get tired, just stop and rest! Or take a break with your arms and just paddle gently with your legs, whatever.

[@theninja4137]

I got taught that one as a toddler because it's the easiest way for a kid to learn how to not drown (in calm-ish water) Face away from water, floating, forward movement without big motions keeps you stable

[@TheOfficialSmudgy]

As a swimming teacher for younger children, side stroke is extremely useful as it allows you to keep your eyes on the student whilst still being able to keep up with them to give them support if necessary. Its honestly up there with breastroke for me, something about gliding through the water is so elegant.

[@helixator3975]

They teach it Australian primary schools, or at least they did back when I was a kid in the 70s. Along with the crawl, backstroke and breast stroke it formed one of the four storks we kids had to do laps with to win our “stroke technique” and “ survival “ certificates. From memory, to be awarded the latter qualification we also had to tread water for 15 minutes wearing clothes, to simulate falling into water. This was compulsory in government schools and made a welcome break from class on a hot day.

[@BigMikeECV]

I took swim lessons in the '60s in California and I learned to sidestroke. I have never told anyone about this secret... until now.

[@HughJass-jv2lt]

Good job 🤣

[@pearleyephos]

Sidestroke is definitely not obscure. Most people who know the other strokes probably know this one too.

[@LindaB651]

I was taught the sidestroke in the early 70's, by a neighbor/friend who was a trained life guard. Most of my life (not sure now, 'cuz I'm old and not as muscular) but most of my life, have had negative buoyancy, so if I stop, I sink. The side stroke is pretty much the only above-water stroke I can maintain without exhaustion (my usual, for fun and speed, swim technique is to dive through the water, using a modified underwater breaststroke, surfacing occasionally to breath.)

[@TheSucram729]

I was taught sidestroke as a kid in swimming lessons my mum put me in and I remember the instructors comparing arm movements to “picking apples and putting them in your basket”

[@Vesperitis]

It has taken 20 years for me to finally learn what the heckie Link's swimming style was from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

[@djpegao]

That's exactly the first thing that came into my mind when I saw how the stroke was performed

[@blak4831]

lmao I learned to swim by just trying to mimic the animation as it appeared in Twilight Princess, years before BSA taught me it was an actual stroke. Front crawl always tired me right tf out and I could never get the hang of breaststroke, felt impossible to get my face out of the water

[@tigerproductions4]

For what it's worth, i think side stroke was also one of the swimming techniques taught in the Boy Scouts of America. At least up to the early 2000s when i was in.

[@loficampingguy9664]

In BSA from 2012-19, was also taught it for Swimming Merit Badge. Not that I hadn't learned it already when learning to swim, I think it was the third or fourth stroke I learned after crawl and breaststroke. IIRC it was mentioned as very efficient and what you should be using if rescuing someone. Also generally favored by scouts who did the Mile Swim.

[@ColHunterGathers]

@@loficampingguy9664 How about 'freestyle' Thats a stroke I never heard of!! I swam freestyle in HS and used the crawl but I didn't know there was a stroke called freestyle... such a dumb illinformed video...

[@crf80fdarkdays]

My grandfather used this to help him stay alive when he went overboard for 14 hours, he was an engineer and brought his own fishing trawler. He was worried swimming breast or back stroke would attract the sharks from the splashing so he side stroked witch ended up hurting his shoulder he was swimming for so long. Another good tactic if you can't swim real well is to lay on your back, relax and take nice calm deep breaths you can easily stay afloat this way although it may not work in heavy waves. Also currents can be pretty brutal, sometimes your best of conserving energy and definetly don't try swim against them.

[@ceno10101]

learned the sidestroke as a kid during swimming lessons and again we used it during boy scouts for emergency preparedness training. I also taught my kids this, as it is my favorite easiest stroke to learn. "grab an apple, put it in the basket".

[@wowlsj]

Learned the sidestroke as a boy scout, and have always kept it in my swimming toolbox, once resorted to it during a particularly grueling triathlon swim for a bit of rest. Always works great.

[@Thorstendeal]

As a swimming teacher we do teach this but it’s mostly in older and more experienced students or when doing personal survival curriculum which for some reason is not the default curriculum in the UK

[@listen1st267]

Interesting. This was the first stroke I taught when teaching swim lessons to elementary school kids. They can keep their heads above water the whole time so it's very basic.

[@Thorstendeal]

@@listen1st267 there are some students that can and do pick up the needed kick pattern for sidestroke, a lot of the students that I have worked with range between 4 and and full grown adults. Generally the best thing to do first is get the student comfortable with floating and then teaching the simple flutter kick. If I have a student who is that uncomfortable with water being on their face then the priorities switch to getting that student to more calm and working on putting their face in the water.

[@stephenshoihet2590]

Side stroke is my preferred technique. I dont know if i ever specifically learned it but i hate moving my head in/out of the water for front crawl and breast stroke isn't very efficient so side stroke just seems natural to me. It's nice when you're at the lake swimming with people so you can still talk with them.

[@ExiledSenpai]

Former American Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor here. There are more than just 5 strokes. For example: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trudgen Your Animation of the side stroke is also incorrect. It looks like the motion animated of bringing the legs back together is the same as bringing them in but in reverse; this isn't how the scissor kick works. The scissor kick has 3 steps. Step one - bring in both legs by bending them at the hip and knees. Step two - extend your top leg in front of you and your lower leg behind you. Step 3 - stiffen your legs at the knee, keeping them strait, point your toes behind you, and bring your legs together with force. As with all swimming techniques, your body will go where you head goes. So, drawing an imaginary line from the middle of your forehead to your chin, keeping that line as close to parallel to the surface of the water (yes, this means one eye in the water) will bring you legs up higher, reduce drag, and increase efficiency. It is for this reason that competitive breast stroke goes beyond what is depicted in this video. Nowadays, the head goes back in the water with every stroke. Furthermore, competitive swimmers don't really look in front of them much, they look down; again, this causes their legs to rise, reducing their profile and increasing efficiency. Competitive swimmers don't need to see in front of them, they know when they're close to the end of the pool by looking at the lines at the bottom of the pool lane.

[@everettw.9610]

Sidestroke is actually (last I checked) still a requirement for Scouts BSA's swimming merit badge, or at least I learned it when I was getting that badge; this was back around 2017-2018.

[@TheDalhuck]

It definitely was back in the 90's when I learned as a cub scout.

[@Delta-zy1et]

I can cornfirm

[@ColHunterGathers]

would not have been possible for me to survive the 1 mile swim at scout camp without the side stroke.

[@Delta-zy1et]

@@ColHunterGathers I only did the sidestroke for the mile just for the fun of it

[@sexagesimalian]

Quit using freestyle and crawl interchangeably. In competitive swimming, you can use backstroke (for example) in a freestyle race if you wanted. (Though in a medley race, the slot for "freestyle" must use something besides backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly because those are the other 3 legs of the medley.)

[@wta1518]

You could technically doggy paddle if you wanted to. It wouldn't be recommended, but you technically could.

[@danielclark4624]

side stroke is also good for lifeguards because you can kind of prop the victim on your hip, perpendicular to you, which makes sure they will be held stable and that their head will always be out of the water

[@J_Westbrook]

You learn this stroke when you take a lifeguarding class. Some coaches will refer to it as the basket stroke because it is similar to picking an apple and placing it in the basket. Great technique for when you are rescuing someone and need to keep their head out of the water.

[@21Michichi]

I learned the side stroke in my basic swim lessons as a kid and then again in my pre-life guarding lessons (pre because I wasn't old enough for certification yet at the end of the course). A lot of the videos in this have horrible form.

[@ColHunterGathers]

which one... the 'freestyle' stoke they keep calling the crawl but also call the crawl stroke correctly.

[@angelrobles7201]

The swimming school I went before taught it. It was the third stroke you would learn (after front crawl and backstroke). Never ever gave a thought about it being so secrete and obscure.

[@waffles3629]

That's because it really isn't that obscure. It's taught in Red Cross lessons, which, at least in the US, is one of the larger swim lesson certification programs. But yeah, it's generally either the third or fourth stroke most students learn.

[@ColHunterGathers]

@@waffles3629 Boy and Girl scouts, lifeguards, military and anyone above basic swimming learned side-stroke.

[@waffles3629]

@@ColHunterGathers yeah, I know, I'm a swim and lifeguard instructor, I've taught it. I only had to actually teach it to one lifeguard student, the rest already knew it.

[@dovahjaron]

My favorite swim technique is the jellyfish, where you dive underwater and use you arms and legs in the same manner as the tendrils of a jellyfish

[@jesusthroughmary]

Freestyle technically isn’t a stroke, it's a competition in which you can use any stroke you want.

[@Nixplaystrombone]

I HATED breaststroke. It was too much energy to go so slowly.

[@ShankarSivarajan]

It's good when you _want_ to waste energy: exercise.

[@Illumas]

I actually do know this swim stroke! My mom was a life guard and taught it to all of us.

[@ColHunterGathers]

Everyone but the writer of this video knows the sode-stoke. If you took any lesson above basic ever you are 99% positive you learned it.

[@byronshepherd8415]

I taught swimming lessons throughout college. The first thing I taught was the back float, and the next thing was the sidestroke. Survivability trumped curriculum in my mind. Once I ensured you wouldn't drown, we worked on the other stuff.

[@bicyclist2]

Growing up I got sent to summer camps. Some of the camp counselors taught us all the swimming stokes shown here. I even competed in a few small swimming competitions at the Maine summer camp. My favorite swim stroke is the side stroke. I've used it so much, I've gotten quite good at it. We were taught using the picking of an apple analogy. I also had some lifeguard training at the same Maine summer camp. I'm not surprised the Navy use it. Thank you.

[@CodeKujo]

I had no idea the side stroke was considered obscure. really? Just because it doesn't have a dedicated Olympic event, I guess?

[@MrAssChapman]

I was taught sidestroke as a kid and thought it was dumb, but years later I kind of stumbled upon it naturally. It really is super efficient.

[@ColHunterGathers]

life saver too. You can swim long distances in open water with it. Backstroke is not as good since it is harder to navigate on your back and in open water waves are hard to deal with on your back.

[@ahoff88]

I learned the sidestroke in swim lessons about 25 years ago. I don't know if things have changed but it was a part of the American Red Cross swim lessons and taught before butterfly. In my time as a lifeguard I never once considered sidestroke in rescue operations. Swimming front crawl (but keeping your head up and out of the water) was always the fastest option and switching to breaststroke (once again always keeping at least my eyes out of the water) if I was getting fatigued.

[@ripwednesdayadams]

when i was a kid, some of the lifeguards would teach kids how to swim at the public pool. they taught us sidestroke, butterfly, freestyle, breast stroke, back stroke, etc. sidestroke wasn’t a secret.

[@imbadatpickinganame]

Is everyone going to gloss over how this channel with nearly 2.5 million subscribers called the entirity of europe racist? 2:20

[@ToastbackWhale]

When talking about the time period its fair tbh

[@imbadatpickinganame]

@@ToastbackWhale most americans would still consider europe to be racist to this day considering 99% of the jokes made in europe are racially based, so from an american perspective everyone is evil and racist, even though european friend groups are diverse It was very out of place in a video talking about a swim stroke because racism and swimming have nothing to do with each other, not even remotely

[@RichardBetel]

As a child, when I took swim lessons, I was learning according to the YMCA's lessons plans, as I recall, and side-stroke was definitely on the curriculum. So I would guess that basically all Canadians who learned to swim in the 70s and 80s learned the side stroke... So I dunno that I would call it obscure.

[@ColHunterGathers]

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts learn this stroke as welll.... this video gets the most basic of swimming wrong. There is no such thing as a freestyle stroke... freestyle is a race where you are FREE to choose whatever stoke you want...

[@DjesonPV]

In France it's called "la nage indienne" (indian swimming) and is taught with the other one has the less energetic / easiest swiming technique. It's even featured in the Septieme Companie films with a full scene dedicated to the technique which begin with the (french) famous movie quote "Qu'est ce que vous nagez bien Chef"

[@ajm5007]

There's quite a few more strokes than five. Resting/elementary backstroke. Dogpaddle. Turtle stroke. Corkscrew. And combinations of various arm and leg strokes (e.g., front crawl with dolphin kick or butterfly with flutter kick)

[@Taven03]

I learned this as a life guard! We also had a variation called rescue stroke which is the one arm version

[@tacitus_]

This is how Link swims in Ocarina of Time. I started emulating it when I was a tiny child and realized it was way easier than doggy paddling.

[@JeffinBville]

The Sidestroke was taught to us when we learned how to swim in the early 60s and is still my preferred way to go.

[@seamusrichardson6011]

I remember the most grueling swim I tried (mainly because I accidentally capsized a kayak that was not okay with that in about 14' deep water and was hauling it back) I eventually created a modified version where the top hand was on the tow rope, and the bottom hand and feet did side stroke things.

[@willwin4744]

I was actually taught sidestroke in swim gym, now I feel more special than usual

[@ugoeze7360]

0:04 your four children sure look like they’re calling different people, mom…🙃

[@peetabrown5813]

I was taught side stroke as a child; as far as I recall is was for easy swimming to stay afloat and to assist others as one hand was free

[@wnohr77]

my dad called it "indian swimming" and taught it to us when my brother and I were kids. I used to swim A LOT but stopped for a long time. when i got back into it i found it was the only stroke i could do for more than a few minutes before beeing winded

[@FacterinoCommenterino]

Today's fact: Japanese square watermelons are ornamental plants and are not edible.

[@shuxuuann]

wow really

[@dissonanceparadiddle]

They don't taste good?

[@shuxuuann]

interesting